The Bibliofilles

Hosted by Sophie and Chaya

The Bibliofilles began, as all great modern love stories do, on Facebook during Lockdown. Sophie asked for a recommendation. Chaya prescribed The Song of Achilles. A DM became a dialogue; a dialogue became @thebibiliofilles; and now, finally, a podcast. Chaya is a barrister, Sophie a former editor. We read across all genres and trends, from classics and non fiction, to contemporary fiction, romantasy and everything in between. The Bibliofilles: The Podcast is life through books, where we get to ruminate beyond the reviews and reels, with thematic episodes, academic deep dives, classics, cult favourites and viral sensations. There will be a book club built for those of us who never quite fit the mould. (with a twist, naturally).

  1. 8 hr ago

    How Do You Follow a Global Phenomenon Like Hamnet? | Maggie O'Farrell

    Maggie O'Farrell joins The Bibliofilles to discuss her extraordinary new novel, Land. In this wide-ranging conversation, Maggie explores the Irish history, mythology and landscape that inspired the book, the lasting legacy of the Great Hunger, and why the land itself becomes a living character in her fiction. We also discuss historical research, writing authentic historical novels, family, memory, grief, parenthood, and the stories of ordinary people caught inside major historical events. Maggie shares insights into her bestselling novels Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait, reveals how Irish myths shaped her storytelling, and explains the fascinating real-world history behind Ireland's sacred wells and folklore. We also go behind the scenes of adapting Hamnet for the screen, writing a screenplay, collaborating with filmmakers, and experiencing the journey from novel to Oscar-winning adaptation. Topics covered: Land by Maggie O'Farrell Historical fiction writing The Irish Great Hunger Irish mythology and folklore Hamnet adaptation The Marriage Portrait Researching historical novels Family, memory and trauma Writing process and creativity Novel writing vs screenwriting If you enjoy conversations about books, literature, writing, historical fiction and storytelling, subscribe to The Bibliofilles for more author interviews and literary discussions. 👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇 Land by Maggie O'Farrell 👉 https://amzn.to/4x5CeGF Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver 👉 https://amzn.to/4vo2hHj Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell 👉 https://amzn.to/4vlCuj2 The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell 👉 https://amzn.to/4x2nF6N 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. Sponsored by London Nootropics https://londonnootropics.com #MaggieOFarrell #Land #Hamnet #TheMarriagePortrait #DemonCopperhead #BarbaraKingsolver #HistoricalFiction #LiteraryFiction #BookPodcast #AuthorInterview #BookTube #BookTok #ReadingCommunity #BooksBooksBooks #FictionBooks #IrishHistory #IrishLiterature #WritersLife #BookLovers #TheBibliofilles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    29 min
  2. 3 days ago

    Governments Don’t Want You Reading These Books

    What happens when society decides certain books are too dangerous to read?  In this episode of the Bibliofilles Podcast, we explore the shocking history of banned books, censorship, moral panic, and the stories that powerful institutions have tried to silence. From 1984 by George Orwell and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury to The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood and The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, we discuss the novels that sparked outrage, political fear, religious backlash, and cultural controversy across generations. We unpack why books continue to be banned in schools and libraries, how censorship reflects societal anxieties, and why literature remains one of the most powerful forms of rebellion. Along the way, we explore dystopian fiction, authoritarianism, surveillance culture, feminism, LGBTQ+ book bans, freedom of speech, and the growing debates around what children should and should not be allowed to read. 👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇 1984 by George Orwell 👉 https://amzn.to/4dD4KaY The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 👉 https://amzn.to/3RVSwSd Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood 👉 https://amzn.to/4ubP6rT Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury 👉 https://amzn.to/4vlrZwf Julia by Sandra Newman 👉 https://amzn.to/3Qdw06T A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 👉 https://amzn.to/4vqAndX The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison 👉 https://amzn.to/4dX8Vx6 Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison 👉 https://amzn.to/4ee0UoN I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou 👉 https://amzn.to/4e3jrTQ The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck 👉 https://amzn.to/3RVT2Q9 The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie 👉 https://amzn.to/4xj6FJJ The Red Tent by Anita Diamant 👉 https://amzn.to/4fSGq6l Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi 👉 https://amzn.to/4uOnzOG Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov 👉 https://amzn.to/4dYYZ6s A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess 👉 https://amzn.to/4uI57Hr Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller 👉 https://amzn.to/3REVLxq Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling 👉 https://amzn.to/4399AXr Charlotte's Web by E.B. White and Garth Williams 👉 https://amzn.to/49ytoXX Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe 👉 https://amzn.to/3RFZNpg All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson 👉 https://amzn.to/4fiRtpo This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson 👉 https://amzn.to/4anvXMD Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison 👉 https://amzn.to/4dHx5Nq Educated by Tara Westover 👉 https://amzn.to/4nZIbAN If you love literary analysis, classic books, dystopian fiction, banned books history, political literature, and conversations about culture through literature, this episode is for you. 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. Sponsored by London Nootropics ⁠https://londonnootropics.com⁠ #BannedBooks #BookTok #BibliophilesPodcast #BooksPodcast #LiteraturePodcast #BookLovers #ClassicLiterature #DystopianBooks #1984 #Fahrenheit451 #TheHandmaidsTale #GeorgeOrwell #MargaretAtwood #ToniMorrison #BookDiscussion #ReadingCommunity #BookRecommendations #FreedomToRead #Censorship #BookCensorship #LiteraryPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    43 min
  3. 25 May

    The Most Performative Book on The Internet?

    What happens when one of the internet’s most aesthetic books is actually read properly? In this deep dive episode,  we unpack The Stranger by Albert Camus the slim philosophical classic that has become a cultural obsession online. From performative reading culture and celebrity book clubs to absurdism, existentialism, alienation, mental health, internet culture, and modern emotional burnout, this episode explores why The Stranger still feels terrifyingly relevant today. If you’ve ever seen someone reading The Stranger on the train and wondered what it actually means this is the episode for you. Perfect for fans of literary analysis, classic literature, philosophy, dark academia, booktok, existential fiction, and deep-dive book podcasts. 📚 Books & authors discussed: 👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇 The Stranger 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=The+Stranger The Myth of Sisyphus 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=The+Myth+of+Sisyphus The Secret History 👉 https://amzn.to/48MawUD Assembly 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=Assembly&crid Waiting for Godot 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=Waiting+for+Godot&crid Nausea 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=Nausea&crid Notes from Underground 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=Notes+from+Underground&crid 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. Sponsored by London Nootropics ⁠https://londonnootropics.com #AlbertCamus #TheStranger #BookPodcast #DarkAcademia #Philosophy #Existentialism #Absurdism #ClassicBooks #BookTok #LiteraryPodcast #FranzKafka #Dostoevsky #BookTube #Literature #DeepDivePodcast #TheBiblioFiles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    57 min
  4. 11 May

    Books We Would Sell Our Souls To Read Again For The First Time?

    What’s the one book you wish you could read again for the very first time? In this episode, we dive into the books that completely consumed us the stories that altered our brains, broke our hearts, changed how we see the world, and left us chasing the feeling long after the final page. From surreal labyrinths and devastating literary epics to obsessive dark academia, emotional masterpieces, and books with twists that genuinely left us breathless… these are the books we would do anything to experience again. 👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇 Star Side by Alex Aster 👉 https://amzn.to/49eYfII Piranesi by Susanna Clarke 👉 https://amzn.to/48P1pmh Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke 👉 https://amzn.to/4wgxSfp The Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien 👉 https://amzn.to/4d8y8EB A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles 👉 https://amzn.to/4tpOBuf Pachinko by Min Jin Lee 👉 https://amzn.to/42lyGBV I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou 👉 https://amzn.to/48NYI4u A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth 👉 https://amzn.to/48MnE Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 👉 https://amzn.to/4cV3Y8T The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller 👉 https://amzn.to/3P3lleC Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver 👉 https://amzn.to/4trtbwF Alchemised by SenLinYu 👉 https://amzn.to/4d9UdTb Night Bitch by Rachel Yoder 👉 https://amzn.to/3QUD1cS What I Loved by Siri Hustvedt 👉 https://amzn.to/4uwc918 A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G Summers 👉 https://amzn.to/4duyt5K Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu 👉 https://amzn.to/4wlO13o Matrix by Lauren Groff 👉 https://amzn.to/4tXZlAQ The Testaments by Margaret Atwood 👉 https://amzn.to/4uySUUS Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall 👉 https://amzn.to/3QQ3SqB In Cold Blood by Truman Capote 👉 https://amzn.to/4etAi3S We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver 👉 https://amzn.to/3QLjBHv The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides 👉 https://amzn.to/3P0pP5H 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. Sponsored by London Nootropics ⁠https://londonnootropics.com⁠ Discount code for 20% off  Biblio Discount Code For Bubble BIBLIO15: ⁠https://bubble.onelink.me/nnib/signup?deep_link_sub2=BIBLIO15.T&Cs⁠ £15 off first childcare booking. Not valid in conjunction with other promo codes or account credit. Valid until 01.11.26. #books #booktok #booktube #bookreview #booklover #bookstagram #bookish #bookrecommendations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    51 min
  5. 10 hr ago

    We Read The Most Unhinged Reviews Of Our Favourite Books

    When was the last time you read a book… without checking the reviews first? In this episode, we read the funniest, harshest, and most unhinged one-star reviews including brutal takedowns of classic books we love. It’s hilarious… until it isn’t. Because beneath the chaos, there’s a bigger question: Are we still thinking for ourselves or letting the internet decide what we like? 👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇 Pride and Prejudice 👉 https://amzn.to/4eKSxSn The Great Gatsby 👉 https://amzn.to/4eILoSE Frankenstein 👉 https://amzn.to/4efizx6 Crime and Punishment 👉 https://amzn.to/4n1AbyS Wuthering Heights 👉 https://amzn.to/3R79kVS The Divine Comedy 👉 https://amzn.to/3OGUPaJ 1984 👉 https://amzn.to/48vrC9j Everything’s Fine 👉 https://amzn.to/4cB4Orf A Prayer for Owen Meany 👉 https://amzn.to/4vTHJrc Never Let Me Go 👉 https://amzn.to/48Y62dK Wolf Hall 👉 https://amzn.to/4ud7UaL The Bell Jar 👉 https://amzn.to/3OM9KAs A Little Life 👉 https://amzn.to/4mZm3Gf A Discovery of Witches 👉 https://amzn.to/4wbQFsm Empire of Pain 👉 https://amzn.to/4mTBOyx Still Life 👉 https://amzn.to/4tNDJXV The Song of Achilles 👉 https://amzn.to/4cTfMr0 Penance 👉 https://amzn.to/4ueNNZF 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. Sponsored by London Nootropics https://londonnootropics.com Discount code for 20% off  Biblio Discount Code For Bubble BIBLIO15: https://bubble.onelink.me/nnib/signup?deep_link_sub2=BIBLIO15.T&Cs £15 off first childcare booking. Not valid in conjunction with other promo codes or account credit. Valid until 01.11.26. #books #booktok #booktube #bookreview #booklover #bookstagram #bookish #bookrecommendations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    42 min
  6. 20 Apr

    Is The Secret History Actually That Good? A Deep Dive

    A Deep Dive into Possibly the Best Book Ever Written? 👀 Few novels inspire obsession like The Secret History and this time, we went all in. After a close reread, we break down the characters, key moments, and the deeper themes that make this book so enduring from elitism and morality to its chilling sense of complicity. We explore the novel’s classical and philosophical influences, unpack different interpretations, and ask the big question… why are we still so obsessed? Whether you’ve read it five times or not at all, this episode will change the way you see it. 👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇 The Secret History by Donna Tartt 👉 https://amzn.to/48MawUD If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio 👉 https://amzn.to/4sCu4ly Weavingshaw by Heba Al-Wasity 👉 https://amzn.to/42c6Ojv Circe by Madeline Miller 👉 https://amzn.to/4cwGbLa Mythos by Stephen Fry 👉 https://amzn.to/4tgUqL0 Heroes by Stephen Fry 👉 https://amzn.to/4cgLpLZ Penance by Eliza Clarke 👉 https://amzn.to/4tfBTP7 The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake 👉 https://amzn.to/3Oo3cI8 Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo 👉 https://amzn.to/4cfIhjw Babel by R.F. Kuang👉 https://amzn.to/3QdRY9E 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. Sponsored by London Nootropics https://londonnootropics.com Discount code for 20% off Biblio #books #booktok #booktube #bookreview #booklover #bookstagram #bookish #bookrecommendations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 18min

About

The Bibliofilles began, as all great modern love stories do, on Facebook during Lockdown. Sophie asked for a recommendation. Chaya prescribed The Song of Achilles. A DM became a dialogue; a dialogue became @thebibiliofilles; and now, finally, a podcast. Chaya is a barrister, Sophie a former editor. We read across all genres and trends, from classics and non fiction, to contemporary fiction, romantasy and everything in between. The Bibliofilles: The Podcast is life through books, where we get to ruminate beyond the reviews and reels, with thematic episodes, academic deep dives, classics, cult favourites and viral sensations. There will be a book club built for those of us who never quite fit the mould. (with a twist, naturally).

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